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Judge to Ammon Bundy: Nope [1]
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Date: 2023-09-13
It always spoils my morning coffee to see the name Ammon Bundy pop up in the news, but this piece is at least partly good news: Third District Judge Brent Whiting signed a preliminary injunction Friday granting St. Luke’s hospital’s request to block Bundy from transferring his assets in order to avoid paying the damages awarded the hospital. And had already started: seems the “sovereign citizen” has no problem using laws that work in his favor. Two news media covered it this morning:
https://www.rawstory.com/ammon-bundy-2665325121/ Ammon Bundy blocked from moving financial assets
https://news.yahoo.com/judge-grants-st-luke-injunction-000919593.html Judge grants St. Luke’s injunction limiting Ammon Bundy’s finances. Here’s what it does
Quick backstory: Bundy created a total shitstorm for St. Luke’s in March 2022 when they were caring for a 10-month old grandchild of one of Bundy’s minions. St. Luke’s recently won their lawsuit for damages, and Bundy spent months evading any serving of the papers until he was nabbed at a school fundraising dinner (see my DK story). That was sweet justice for the man who got away with befouling the Malheur Wildlife Refuge (wikipedia has a long article — a bit too “objective” given all the damage, but it gives the basics.)
The bottom line is that Ammon was smug enough that he even bragged about protecting his property from being seized to pay the lawsuit, and that combined with the probability that St. Luke’s is gonna win any appeals, the judge has stopped Bundy from transferring assets. Or rather, transferring any MORE assets — because sneak Ammon has already sold his house “to White Barn Enterprises, LLC, for one-quarter of its $1 million value and then continues to live in it under a five-year lease in his wife’s name. White Barn is managed by Bundy’s friend, Aaron Welling.” (Raw Story). The judge is on top of that, and has also forbidden “White Barn” from selling or in any way transferring that property.
The injunction stops Bundy, his wife, his People’s Rights Network group or his campaign (Oh yes — the man is running for governor in Idaho) from:
“Selling, transferring or conveying any real property;
Transferring any ownership interests they hold in an entity;
Causing an entity they hold an ownership interest in to transfer, sell or convey interest in real property or material assets;
Transferring monetary assets from any banks;
Incurring new material obligations.” (Raw Story)
Already Bundy is complaining that the “allowance” the judge has placed on Bundy’s use of his own assets ($5,750/month) is too little.
“I have six children,” Bundy said in a message. “Our expenses are greater than $5,750. I’m not concerned though, I will pay my expenses and if St. Lukes (wants) to file a complaint for contempt because I am taking care of my family,then they can go right ahead.” (Yahoo)
He’s just not happy unless he’s thumbing his nose at the law. According to Yahoo:
If Bundy violates the court order, Whiting could find him in contempt. From there, the judge could try to force compliance by ordering banks to restric this access or placing Bundy in jail.
Somehow I think the St. Luke’s attorney, Erik Stidham,was speaking very tongue in cheek when he said, “St. Luke’s appreciates that the process is moving forward. We certainly hope Mr. Bundy complies with the preliminary injunction, and we look forward to getting this resolved through the proper legal process.” (per the Idaho Statesman) Considering how flat-out non-compliant Ammon has been so far, I’m guessing it’s still a very uphill climb before the hospital sees a dollar — but I am very grateful to them for persisting in holding this scofflaw accountable. Given all the trouble and expense he’s caused so many people, I can only hope they decide he’s pulled his last stunt and they put him in jail.
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[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/13/2193055/-Judge-to-Ammon-Bundy-Nope
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